Apparatus for working the abdominal muscles while protecting the back and promoting diaphragmatic breathing

ABSTRACT

Device for working specifically the abdominal muscles in a staged, global, symmetrical and asymmetrical manner, while protecting the back and encouraging diaphragmatic breathing. 
     The invention concerns a device permitting the toning up of the abdominal muscles and the gradual prolonging of effort. 
     It is made up of a lumbar band fixed to two rings divided into three levels by two teeth, braces fixed at together with a strap. When the user pulls the strap inserted in the ring at a chosen level and holds his stomach in while taking a breath, the device supports, in a staged manner, the work of the abdominal muscles, protects the back and aids diaphragmatic breathing. 
     This device according to the invention is particularly intended for beginners and for people suffering from lumbar pain and obesity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a device for working specifically andeasily the abdominal muscles, and more particularly the transversemuscle, in a staged, global, symmetrical and asymmetrical manner, whileprotecting the back and offering better oxygenation as well as a goodamplitude of abdominal work thanks to the diaphragmatic breathingencouraging during exercising. The desired effects with this device arethe toning up of the abdominal muscles and the gradual prolonging ofmuscular effort so as to exceed, thanks to the simplicity and easinessof the training, the duration necessary for this effort to contribute tothe reduction of abdominal fat.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Traditionally, to work the abdominal muscles, physical exercises areproposed. Their main drawback is that they call at the same time foreffort from other muscles and quickly cause a state of fatigue anddiscouragement for those who are not used to prolonged physical effortand those who suffer from lumbar pain or obesity. Other instruments,according to their designers, carried in the hands and being appliedagainst the abdominal muscles, work these muscles directly. However,these exercises add to the abdominal work the work of the biceps whichmust provide a considerable effort and carry the device. In addition,during these exercises, the back is not protected because it alonecompensates for the work of the biceps and the abdominal muscles.Similarly, the strength of the arms may well not be symmetrical andwould put a strain on one side of the spinal column.

Certain instruments, by electric stimulation, work the abdominal musclesbut they do not require physical effort or optimal oxygenation.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The device according to the invention remedies these drawbacks and worksspecifically and for a long time the abdominal muscles while protectingthe back. It comprises, indeed, a wide band referred to hereinafter asthe “lumbar band”, a strap, two rings and braces.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The lumbar band, made of a flexible, strong material, of fixed width andof variable length according to the sizes (small, medium and large), isplaced in this device on the lower back, and fixes to a ring at each ofits ends and to the braces by the middle of its top part.

Each ring, made of a rigid material and covering the width of the lumbarband, is divided according to length into three equal parts by twoteeth. At the top of the rings are attached adjustable braces to carrythe device like a back-pack.

In the various parts of the ring, constituting three stages, therepasses a strap made of flexible, strong material, of fixed width and ofvariable length according to the sizes (small, medium and large).

To work the abdominal muscles, the user, standing or seated, wears thedevice like a back-pack, adjusts the lumbar band on the lower back andinserts, in the rings, the strap which goes round the abdomen. Then, hetakes hold of the two ends of the strap and pulls while taking a breathand trying to hold his stomach in as much as possible. The strap partlysupports the work of the abdominal muscles and thus reduces the effortso as to prolong the duration. The device, by the pulling of the strapand the movement of the arms, aids, by combining it with the exercise,diaphragmatic breathing which offers a greater amplitude to theabdominal work and optimal oxygenation. The strap must be released withnon-forced breathing in.

Carried out by sliding from one stage to another, the modification ofthe strap on the rings permits staged specific work in all the abdominalmuscles. For symmetrical work, the user places the strap at the samelevel in the rings. Asymmetrical work can also be done by placing thestrap at different levels. In this case, the user must therefore pull onthe ends of the strap by crossing his hands over.

The lumbar band, placed as low as possible on the back, tightens at thesame time as the strap and permits lumbar correction and protection whenworking the abdominal muscles.

According to particular embodiments:

The device can be one size but adjustable by adding technical adjustingand fixing features to the lumbar band, to the ring or to both if thetechnique and the material these elements are made of require it. Thus:

a) The lumbar band can be of fixed length adjustable at the user'swaist. The band can be adjusted and fixed on the rings by adding to theband technical fixing and adjusting features such as, by way of anon-exhaustive example, self-fastening fabrics or others.

b) The ring can be joined to an adjusting and fixing mechanism such as,by way of a non-exhaustive example, an adjusting loop for the braces orothers.

The rings can also be provided with holes at the top for fixing thestraps. Equally, seeing that the shape of the rings does not interferewith the device's functional features, it can vary and be rectangular,trapezoidal, triangular, semi-circular or others

The strap can be provided with an adjusting and looping mechanism byadding to it, by way of a non-exhaustive example, a loop andself-fastening fabrics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The attached drawings illustrate the invention:

FIG. 1 represents the inner face of the device according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 represents the outer face of a variant of this device.

FIG. 3 shows symmetrical work in all the abdominal muscles.

FIG. 4 shows asymmetrical work.

FIG. 5 shows the biomechanical functioning associated with the device.

FIG. 6 represents the device's elements.

FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 represent, for variants of this device,different embodiments of the lumbar band, strap and rings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to drawings 1, 2 and 6, the device comprises on the onehand a lumbar band (1) made of flexible, strong and non-stretch materialwhich fixes, at each of its ends over the entire width, to a ring (2)and attaches to the braces (4) in the middle of the top part (41). Thering (2) made of rigid material, is divided into three parts by twoteeth (21). Adjustable braces (4) to carry the device like a back-packattach at their ends (42) to the top of the rings. On the other hand,the device also comprises a strap (3) made of flexible, strong andnon-stretch material, of fixed width making it possible to pass easilythrough the parts of the rings. The strap serves to support the musclework and to tighten the device during exercising.

Referring now to drawings 3 and 4, the rings divided into three parts(a), (b) and (c) permit staged work in all the abdominal muscles.Symmetrical work can be done on three stages by inserting the strap atthe same level in the two rings (FIG. 3). Asymmetrical work can be doneon the right side and on the left side by inserting the strap in twodifferent levels (FIG. 4). Since the teeth (21) do not cover the entirewidth of the ring, they allow the strap to slide from one level toanother.

Referring now to drawing 5, the device according to the inventionperforms the following biomechanical functions: when the device is wornand adjusted and the strap inserted in the rings, the device operates bypulling with both hands (a) on the strap (3), breathing out (d) andtrying to hold the stomach in as much as possible (b). The tightenedstrap (g) supports the abdominal muscles which go in (b). The movementof the arms (a) and

the pulling of the strap (g) encourage diaphragmatic breathing whichoffers a greater amplitude to the abdominal work (b) and optimaloxygenation (d). Tightened by the action of the hands pulling the strap(3), the lumbar band (1) supports the back and corrects posture (e).

Referring now to drawings 1 and 7 which illustrate a variant of thedevice, the strap (3) can have technical looping and adjusting featuressuch as, by way of non-exhaustive examples, a small loop (31) andself-fastening fabrics (11) with loops and hooks (12).

Referring now to drawings 2 and 8 which illustrate variants of thedevice, the lumbar band (1) can have technical fixing and adjustingfeatures such as self-fastening fabrics (non-exhaustive example). Thefabrics with loops (11) fix on the outer face of the lumbar band. Thehook parts (12) are added to the ends of this band.

Referring now to drawings 2, 9, 10, 11 and 12 which illustrate variantsof the device, the ring (2) can be joined to an adjusting and fixingmechanism such as a loop for adjusting braces (23) (non-exhaustiveexample). Equally, the ring (2) can be provided with a hole (22) at thetop to attach the ends of the braces (41) and it can have variousshapes. The example of a circular shape (20) illustrated in FIG. 9 isnon-exhaustive.

Referring now to drawing 2 which illustrates a variant of the device,the technical adjusting features can be added both to the lumbar band(1) as in (11) and (12) and to the rings (2) as in (23).

As a non-exhaustive example and for a non-adjustable adult medium sizemodel with rectangular plastic rings, having the strap as well as thelumbar band made of thick fabrics, the dimensions can be as follows: thelumbar band will measure about 50 cm×20 cm×0.3 cm. The strap will havethe approximate dimensions 120 cm×4 cm×.03 cm. The ring, of variablethickness and width according to the material, will measure in thisexample about 25 cm×7 cm×1.5 cm. The teeth of the rings will measure 3cm. The height of the stages will be about 6 cm.

This device according to the invention is intended for any personwishing to tone up his abdominal muscles without fatigue and safely forthe back. More particularly, it will be suitable for people who arebeginning exercising who are not used to physical effort and who havethe major impediments of lumbar pain or obesity.

1. Device for working specifically the abdominal muscles of an user, andmore particularly the transverse muscle, thereof said device comprisinga flexible lumbar having two opposite transversal end portions, tworigid rings respectively fixed to said transversal end portion over theentire length thereof each of said rings having at least one tooth whichdelimits into the ring at least two staged parts, two braces each havinga first end fixed to one of said rings and a second end attached to amiddle area of said lumbar band and a flexible strap passing through twoparts of said rings at selected level while forming with the lumbar banda closed loop.
 2. Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rings arerespectively provided with two internal teeth which define into saidring three distinct passages, said ring being fixed on two oppositeparts of said band, said band being conceived so as to pass through onepassage of each ring.
 3. Device according to claim 1 wherein said bandis made of rigid, flexible material.
 4. Device according to claim 1wherein strap is made of rigid, flexible material and goes round theabdomen user.
 5. Device according to claim 1 wherein said maintainingmeans comprising a self adjusting and fixing mechanism provided on saidband and on said strap.
 6. Device according to claim 5 wherein saidadjusting and fixing mechanism comprise at least a self-fastening fabricwith loops and self-fastening fabric with hooks.
 7. Device according toclaim 5 wherein said strap has one end portion which is provided with asmall loop.
 8. Device according to claim 1 which comprises means foradjusting the length of said band.